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N Ireland split on top-ups proposal

The prospect of variable top-up fees in Northern Ireland has split the
province's two universities.

Queen's University Belfast feels top-ups would improve university finances, but
Ulster University disagrees, believing they would reduce access.

They were responding to news that Barry Gardiner, minister for employment and
learning, had launched a public consultation on whether to follow England in
introducing fees and graduate repayments.

He described as "perverse" the fact that 30 per cent of Northern Ireland
students in England would provide funds to improve standards in English
universities, while students in Northern Ireland did not support investment in
the province's universities.

While both institutions welcomed the government's recognition that more
investment was needed, they disagreed about whether top-ups were the way
forward. A Queen's spokesperson said: "Variable fees are a crucial
element.

Fixed fees remove flexibility and that is not in the interests of students or
the community."

But Gerry McKenna, vice-chancellor of UU, feared it would lead to "a two-tier
system based on affordability not academic ability." UU wants to see the
reintroduction of means-tested grants of up to £5,000 a year, alongside
tuition fees and bursaries.

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